Forest Knowledge Gateway
Forest restoration and integrative management.

This report provides a national assessment of forest restoration in the United Kingdom, examining how restoration objectives, approaches and outcomes have developed over time. It reviews the historical context of woodland loss and expansion, the main interventions used to restore forest cover and woodland quality, and the policies and management approaches that have shaped restoration. The report considers changes in woodland extent, the restoration and protection of native and ancient woodlands, and more recent approaches including habitat networks, rewilding and the restoration of natural processes. It also evaluates the main successes and continuing challenges affecting forest restoration in the UK.

This article features the EU-Horizon project TRANSFORMIT and the Integrative Forest Management Indicators developed within the project. It explores how Integrative Forest Management can help forests meet multiple, often competing demands. This article was first published in Forestry & Energy, Ireland’s practitioner magazine for the forestry and energy sectors. 

Climate-smart rewilding could transform how Europe restores nature while tackling climate change. A new study presents a practical framework that brings together biodiversity recovery, carbon storage, climate adaptation and societal benefits, helping policymakers identify where rewilding can deliver the greatest impact. Using Europe as a case study, the researchers highlight opportunities to restore abandoned farmland, create ecological corridors that help wildlife adapt to a warming climate and support rural economies through nature-based tourism. At the same time, the framework explicitly addresses trade-offs, including wildfire risks, competing land uses and potential conflicts between recovering predators and livestock farming. Rather than promoting one-size-fits-all restoration, the approach emphasizes locally tailored solutions that balance ecological, climatic and social priorities. The framework provides a powerful decision-making tool for implementing ambitious biodiversity and climate targets while ensuring that restored ecosystems remain resilient, self-sustaining and beneficial for both people and nature.